Hole in one on 261-yard Par 4

Stourbridge golfer Bob Lowe is celebrating the first hole in one of his life - on a 261-yard par four.

The 52-year-old aced the 17th at Drayton Bassett Golf Club near Tamworth to become the first player ever to hole in one on one of the course’s par fours.

The 14-handicapper, from Bloxwich Golf Club, achieved the feat during a charity event to raise money for the Jinksy’s Links cancer charity.

He said: “It is the first time the club has ever had a hole in one on a par four and it’s certainly never happened to me before.

“It’s the first time I’ve had a hole in one on any hole, let alone on a par four.

“I played in a tournament a few years ago and put me tee shot about four inches away on a par three but that was the closest I had ever come before that.”

And Lowe also revealed how the ace transformed his round, which had begun slowly.

He said: “I certainly didn’t expect to be getting a hole in one when I reached the 17th tee.

“I teed off on the 10th because it was a split start and as I stood on the 17th tee I had played seven holes and scored five points and when I walked off the 17th green I had got 11 points.

“With my handicap I should have taken five shots on that hole and I would have taken that after the start I had made.”

Lowe, who hit a driver to reach the green in one, was unsure whether his ball had found its way into the hole until he made his way down the fairway.

He said: “I saw the ball take one bounce onto the green and head towards the hole and the next minute I couldn’t see it.

“My playing partner said it had gone in but I wasn’t sure and I just thought he was taking the mickey.

“But when I got to the green I found it in the hole.

“I didn’t win anything on the day with my 32 points but it did cost me for a round of 66 drinks in the clubhouse afterwards.

“The important thing was the money we raised for charity.”

By Steve Madeley